On September 18, 2016, Beulah Dean Horne was called to the Lord at the age of 82. She passed peacefully in her sleep as a result of coronary arterial disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
Dean was born in Washita, Arkansas on July 14, 1934 to John and Hattie Smith. She is a 1952 graduate of Mount Ida High School. Dean was a loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She was affectionately known as “Sister” to her immediate family in Arkansas.
“It’s nice to be important, but it is more important to be nice!”
Living by this unspoken mantra, she personified charm, grace, and dignity. Upon meeting her for the first time, you were immediately drawn to her. Dean will always be remembered as a woman of strong Christian faith, who devoted her spiritual energy to her church, Sunrise Baptist Church, in El Paso, TX. She had an irrepressible enthusiasm for life, and loved being in the company of her family, her friends, and her beloved “Baby”, Benji. She is remembered for her kindness, generosity, and compassion. In addition, she loved to cook, loved to travel, loved to sing, and loved to shop.
In her later years, she moved to the San Antonio area to be near her family. As a grandmother, she was most happy being closer to her grandchildren.
Dean is preceded by her husband Robert Horne, her parents John and Hattie Smith, her three sisters Fern Avery, Geneva Gabel, Cleda Reed, and brother James Smith. She is survived by sons John Dennis O’Briant (Maria), Morris Franklin O’Briant (Elizabeth), Robert Lawrence O’Briant (Ann), and daughter Kathleen Maria Gillespie (Tony). In addition, she is survived by grandchildren Lisa O’Briant, Robert O’Briant, Vincent O’Briant, Daniel O’Briant, Dianne O’Briant, Sean O’Briant, and Shannon O’Briant. She is also survived by three great-grandchildren. Dean loved her family dearly and nothing pleased her more than being in their presence.
A special thanks is in order for her caretakers, Ms. Joyce Hodges and Ms. Yolanda Verastequi. She will be greatly missed.
A celebration of her life will be held November 5th at 10:00 at the Thornton Funeral Chapel with Brien Mckenna officiating. With burial at Reed Cemetery, Story, Arkansas.
Arrangements were made under the direction of Thornton Funeral Home of Mount Ida, AR. Guest register at www.thorntonfh.com
